After the collapse of multiple buildings in Myanmar and Bangkok, 1,600 deaths have been counted.
A major earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, and sent shocks way beyond its epicentre.
Myanmar is considered to be one of the most geologically “active” areas in the world because it sits on top of the convergence of four of these tectonic plates – the Eurasian plate, the Indian plate, the Sunda plate and the Burma microplate, points out the BBC.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing to be done to make an earthquake not take place, or to reduce its impact.
We can only prepare and manage.
The US geological survey points out that this particular earthquake, at a 7.7 on the Richter scale, produced more energy than the atomic bomb landing on Hiroshima.
Things were pretty bad already, with many people being displaced in Myanmar because of monsoon season.
The earthquake also hit one skyscraper in Bangkok, through a wave effect and thanks to Bangkok’s soft soil.
Regardless, the search for survivors is not stopping. And it’s a Sysphic feat, under 30 feet of rubble.
Rescuers are using x-ray technology, but have alerted the UN that they’re going to need more support.
